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It might be too early for pantomime, but it’s never too soon to see Mel Brooks’ ingenious updating of Young Frankenstein delivered as a spoof both of the horror movie genre and of the theatricality of stage musicals.

Terri Paddock rounds up three musicals she’s seen recently: Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein in the West End, Five Guys Named Moe in the specially erected Marble Arch Theatre and the 50th-anniversary revival of Hair at The Vaults.

Terri Paddock rounds up three musicals she’s seen recently: Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein in the West End, Five Guys Named Moe in the specially erected Marble Arch Theatre and the 50th-anniversary revival of Hair at The Vaults.

Like The Producers before it, Young Frankenstein hails from a Brooks movie of some 40 years earlier with the veteran writer/director reframing the comedy-horror flick around his own composition of words and music.

This cult movie-cum-musical is a smash hit with those who don’t take themselves too seriously – and who appreciate that same quality in musical theatre. Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein is outrageously funny and devilishly naughty.

Mad and bizarrely brilliant, this musical based on the classic 1974 film is a great way to cure the blues. If there is a more madly brilliant show than Young Frankenstein in the West End then I have yet to see it.

It’s alive…barely. Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein staggers into the West End after some more time on the operating table since its 2007 Broadway opening. But for a piece of new musical theatre, it is so desperately old-fashioned that you half expect Russ Abbot and Bella Emberg to pop up and do a turn.

A TRANSYLVANIAN TRANSPORT OF DELIGHT Sometimes you just want a bit of fun. That is the moment to turn to Mel Brooks, master of daft parody. At 91, the master strode onstage tonight with director Susan Stroman, and … Continue reading →

Summer’s officially over, but don’t be sad – there’s plenty of great theatre to keep you happy. Love London Love Culture’s Emma Clarendon has rounded up the productions she’s most looking forward to in September. With Mates ticket links!